Zimbabwe Cricket bans Madhevere and Mavuta; Kasuza also fails drug test

ASHLEY DUBE

HARARE – Zimbabwe Cricket (ZC) has imposed a four-month ban on national team players Wessly Madhevere and Brandon Mavuta for recreational drug use.

Mavuta and Madhevere banned by Zimbabwe Cricket recreational drug use, Kasuza fails drug test

The ban comes after they admitted to breaching the ZC Employment Code of Conduct by testing positive for a banned recreational drug during an in-house doping test in December.

Additionally, Madhevere and Mavuta have been fined 50 percent of their salaries for three months, effective from January 2024, and have received final written warnings valid for 12 months.

They are also required to undergo rehabilitation overseen by ZC medical personnel and train under ZC’s High Performance program.

The disciplinary committee stressed ZC's zero-tolerance policy towards drugs and drug taking, citing that the players' actions had brought the organization and cricket into disrepute.

However, the committee also acknowledged mitigating factors, such as the players' remorse and efforts to withdraw from the habit and cleanse their systems.

Furthermore, another national team player, Kevin Kasuza, has been suspended from all cricket activities pending a hearing after testing positive for a banned recreational drug during an in-house doping test last week.

Kasuza is also being charged under the ZC Employment Code of Conduct and is due to appear for a disciplinary hearing soon.